Anger can contribute to health problems

Thursday

Jan 26, 2006 at 5:12 AM

PAUL URBAN

During the holidays you have a lot of time to catch up on movies that you didn't have time to view throughout the year. A movie that I saw recently was "Anger Management," starring Jack Nicholson and Adam Sandler.
The movie really is a hoot, and it shows how different people react differently to frustrating situations. Some people keep their anger bottled up and one day just blow their tops, while others overreact to every situation. Whether you find yourself in the former or the latter category, it's important to know how to manage your anger under any circumstances.
Getting upset and angry can actually contribute to health problems like headaches, stomach pains, high blood pressure and even heart attack.
And don't think it's just your neighbor or your family members who can set you off. How about your favorite team in the playoffs, or did it even make the playoffs this year? How is the team doing, or better yet, how's the coaching, refereeing or play-calling? If your blood started boiling by just my mentioning the topic, then you know what I mean.
If you find yourself getting a little steam under your collar, you can try counting to 10 and taking deep breaths. Put it all into perspective. Will this incident really matter in a day, a week or a year? I knew a lady one time who always just counted "8, 9, 10." It was funny because you always knew that she was at her end. But the little mechanism did help her diffuse some of the anger that was building.
You can also try going for a walk to help cool you down, literally, this time of year. Go by yourself or with someone who doesn't mind listening to you vent. Sometimes just talking it through may help you realize that it's going to be OK.
Try distracting yourself, especially in instances where, say, traffic is just too heavy and someone cut you off. Don't act like that's never happened to you! Instead of showing him friendly hand gestures or ramming your fist on your car horn, turn on some nice, soothing music.
A friend of mine listens to all sorts of music in the car and when traveling, but she knows that she's prone to "road rage" at times. Anytime she feels it coming on, she immediately turns her radio or CD player to a Christian or gospel station to help soothe her nerves. Hey, whatever works for you, do it!
Writing things down can also help you discover what sets you off and why. If you can come to grips with some of the reasons you get upset, then avoiding those may be a solution to your anger problems. If you think Jon Gruden is the most annoying coach on the sidelines and the Bucs just aren't doing what you want them to do, then don't allow the game to rule your life. Take breaks during the game. Don't devote an entire afternoon to the NFL. Try writing down how you think you could do a better job!
Finally, if your anger is still out of control, try asking for help. That's sort of what happened in "Anger Management." Sandler wound up in an anger-management support group.
And if you find yourself at your wits' end, to steal a thought from the movie, you can always sing songs from "West Side Story." "I feel pretty. Oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and bright. And I pity any girl who isn't me tonight..."
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Dr. Paul L. Urban founded the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Ocala Regional Medical Center, where he serves as medical director. Send ideas for columns to Allison.Campbell@hcahealthcare.com.

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